Introducing Amazon Wind Farm Texas

#1

Post by based2 » Sun, Sep 18, 2016, 11:29 AM UTC

Introducing Amazon Wind Farm Texas
amazon.com

Re: Introducing Amazon Wind Farm Texas

#2

Post by dqv » Sun, Sep 18, 2016, 11:36 AM UTC

Stop trying to hoard the air!

Serious question - as of right now, does Amazon have wind farms to reduce their own costs or do they plan on making a profit by selling the energy to consumers?

Re: Introducing Amazon Wind Farm Texas

#3

Post by johnm1019 » Sun, Sep 18, 2016, 12:56 PM UTC

Are these wind farms located near data centers and such use the power directly? Or do they dump into the grid and sell it as power then claim all their power usage is renewable because it is "offset"?

Re: Introducing Amazon Wind Farm Texas

#4

Post by ianlevesque » Sun, Sep 18, 2016, 12:59 PM UTC

johnm1019 wrote: post #3

Are these wind farms located near data centers and such use the power directly? Or do they dump into the grid and sell it as power then claim all their power usage is renewable because it is "offset"?

Why would that be a problem?

Re: Introducing Amazon Wind Farm Texas

#5

Post by daniel_levine » Sun, Sep 18, 2016, 1:05 PM UTC

Can't wait for Amazon Energy... Utility-scale renewable energy for all

Re: Introducing Amazon Wind Farm Texas

#6

Post by regularfry » Sun, Sep 18, 2016, 1:11 PM UTC

From the press release:

    Amazon today announced “Amazon Wind Farm Texas,” a new
    253-megawatt (MW) wind farm in Scurry County, Texas,
    that will generate 1,000,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of 
    wind energy annually

Seems optimistic. Rule of thumb is that onshore wind generates 30% of its plate rating. That's 660GHw, not 1000, for a 253MW plant. Still a nice, impressive number, just seems over-cooked.

Re: Introducing Amazon Wind Farm Texas

#7

Post by Dylan16807 » Sun, Sep 18, 2016, 1:13 PM UTC

johnm1019 wrote: post #3

Are these wind farms located near data centers and such use the power directly? Or do they dump into the grid and sell it as power then claim all their power usage is renewable because it is "offset"?

Is there a flaw in treating electricity as fungible in this case? What matters is the amount of carbon that would be produced without Amazon, vs. the amount produced including Amazon.

Re: Introducing Amazon Wind Farm Texas

#8

Post by mtmail » Sun, Sep 18, 2016, 1:30 PM UTC

johnm1019 wrote: post #3

Are these wind farms located near data centers and such use the power directly? Or do they dump into the grid and sell it as power then claim all their power usage is renewable because it is "offset"?

The press release itself reads "Amazon will purchase about 90% of the power generated by the wind farm." so I assume the primary purpose is their data centers.

Re: Introducing Amazon Wind Farm Texas

#9

Post by InternetPerson » Sun, Sep 18, 2016, 1:32 PM UTC

johnm1019 wrote: post #3

Are these wind farms located near data centers and such use the power directly? Or do they dump into the grid and sell it as power then claim all their power usage is renewable because it is "offset"?

I notice that you're simply asking a question. In your comment, you don't imply that one option is better than the other. And yet the two replies (so far) don't attempt to answer the question, but do attempt to argue with you...

Anyway, if anyone knows the answer, I'd like to know as well. And to be clear: I have no opinion about how things should be in this case, I just want to know how they are.

Re: Introducing Amazon Wind Farm Texas

#10

Post by InternetPerson » Sun, Sep 18, 2016, 1:32 PM UTC

mtmail wrote: post #8

johnm1019 wrote: post #3

Are these wind farms located near data centers and such use the power directly? Or do they dump into the grid and sell it as power then claim all their power usage is renewable because it is "offset"?

The press release itself reads "Amazon will purchase about 90% of the power generated by the wind farm." so I assume the primary purpose is their data centers.

Thanks!